How the Red Sox and pop culture collide in 2013

Red Sox fans behold: Big Papi is becoming a producer of his own MTV television show. MTV Networks and Major League Baseball said they are collaborating on a weekly 30-episode series that melds pop culture and baseball, reports the Associated Press. We can see our own comparisons between the Sox and pop culture, so here are some ideas for the new series.

It was a wild ride for Red Sox Nation as Boston’s beloved baseball team turned from worst to first en route to this year’s World Series victory, and an interesting year in the world of pop culture. Here’s a look back at the Sox’ amazing championship run as it correlates to a few of this year’s major nonsports happenings in 2013.
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left: Jim Davis/Globe Staff; Right: Stephanie Strasburg for The New York Times

‘Started from the Bottom’ after awful 2012 season

Drake’s 2013 smash hit, “Started from the Bottom,” couldn’t have been a more apt song to sum up the Red Sox’ woes coming into this season.

Luckily for Red Sox Nation, though, the team was able to regroup heading into 2013, going from worst to first as they ended the season atop the American League East division. Now the owners of another World Series title, the whole team is here and glad to be crowned this year’s kings of baseball.
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Considering the many holes the Sox needed to fill going into 2013, the Sox’s new manager had quite a lot of work cut out for him to make this team successful.

As this season progressed, Farrell was able to inspire the team, creating — for this year at least — a sense of chemistry among the teammates. Like Don Draper of “Mad Men,” the new boss was able to get his squad motivated and back on the right track.
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Left: Barry Chin/Globe Staff; Right: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Team channels inner ‘Duck Dynasty’

Throughout the 2013 campaign, the Red Sox have made a spectacle out of their beards, which have become a symbol of team unity for fans and players alike.

This renewed sense of camaraderie among the squad members has been a major part of their huge post-season run and has even won back a few lost fans.

Like the personalities on A&E’s ratings shattering reality show, “Duck Dynasty,” the Sox’ massive amount of success coupled with their unconventional looks have made them as popular as ever.
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Left: MATT CAMPBELL/EPA; Right: Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press

Uehara shuts down batters

While Bostonians and baseball fans across the nation were not exactly pleased about the government shutdown this fall, Red Sox fans couldn’t be happier to see closer Koji Uehara continue to shut down batters this post-season.

The 38-year-old reliever seemingly came out of nowhere in 2013, but his 21 saves and 1.09 regular season ERA has made him one of the Sox’s biggest stars.

Sporting a 0.66 ERA with seven saves and 16 strikeouts this post-season, watching Uehara stifle hitters is one shut down Red Sox Nation was glad to get behind.
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As the team’s most seasoned veteran, David Ortiz stepped it up big time in 2013, ending the season batting .309 with 30 homeruns and 103 RBIs.

Big Papi has really taken flight this post-season, especially in the World Series, winning the series MVP while batting an astounding .688 over the six games. Considering the rest of the team’s post-season hitting woes, Ortiz pretty much carried the offense on his back.

Like Superman, Big Papi has had plenty of heroic moments this season, including his monstrous grand slam in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers as well as a plethora of big hits in the World Series. The Sox’ “Man of Steel” helped to save the day as they finished their series with the Cardinals.
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Thankfully, this trend is not as baffling and provocative as Miley’s favorite move.
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Left: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press; Right: Walt Disney Pictures

Victorino’s ‘Iron Man’ moment

After signing with the Sox for a hefty three year, $39 million contract, many fans and analysts wondered whether outfielder Shane Victorino was worth the money. Like Iron Man, questions remained about whether the large investment would be rewarded with even bigger fire power.

After splitting the first two games of the World Series at Fenway Park, the Red Sox were forced to take on the Cardinals in St. Louis for Game 3. Despite winning earlier in the game, the Sox ended up losing on a weird obstruction call at home plate.

While the rule book seemed to confirm the legitimacy of the call, fans were still a bit agitated over how such an obscure rule could cost Boston the victory. Like a senator trying to navigate the murky political waters of Washington, D.C., in Netflix’s “House of Cards,” sometimes the rules aren’t in your favor.
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Like the popular 2013 Daft Punk hit, the Sox got pretty lucky with this play.
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Top: Jim Wilson/Globe Staff; Bottom: Associated Press/AMC

World Series walkers?

Is that a horde of walkers in the top picture? No, just a crowd of happy Red Sox fans taking over Boylston Street following Game 6 of the World Series.

After the Sox defeated the Cardinals 6-1 at Fenway Park, Boston fans took to the streets in droves to celebrate the championship clinching victory. Thankfully, “The Walking Dead” style mayhem was kept to a minimum by the Fenway faithful.
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